Centurion Jos Buttler effectively fired a warning shot at South Africa, less than three weeks prior to England’s World Cup opening fixture at The Oval.
England and the Proteas will meet in London on 30 May 2019, when Buttler will challenge a threatening opposition attack spearheaded by fast bowler Kagiso Rabada and others.
Buttler averages 38.33 against South Africa in ODI cricket. The aggregate is boosted by early 2016’s 105 at the Mangaung Oval in Bloemfontein, when seamer Chris Morris and leg-spinner Imran Tahir proved expensive.
The Englishman played against Rabada and other Proteas in the Indian Premier League recently – and on Saturday struck a superb century against Pakistan in the second ODI Southampton.
The hard-hitting right-hander collected 110 from 55 deliveries, which featured six fours and nine sixes, in a final total of 373 for three. He was well supported by the Durban-born Jason Roy, who managed a complementary 87.
The high-scoring affair featured another of South Africa’s probable opposition in the World Cup. Fakhar Zahman gathered 138 from 106, which was lined with a dozen boundaries and quartet of sixes, in Pakistan’s unsuccessful reply of 361 for seven – and 12-run defeat.
Pakistan will meet the Proteas at Lord’s on 23 June.
Photo: Getty Images
